Firstborn and Only Begotten

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Exodus 4:22 (KJV)

Firstborn – As a follower of Yeshua, it is easy to forget history when you believe the history of the faith began with the advent of Jesus in the first century. When all we read is the New Testament, the history prior to it becomes irrelevant. If I believe that Yeshua completely absolved everything written in the Old Testament to create a new religion called Christianity, then I have lost perspective.

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Passover in the Home

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Mark 14:22 (KJV)

Imagine for a second that Yeshua went to a synagogue or church to break bread on the Passover evening. Walking in, Yeshua would be invited to sit somewhere special as a recognized rabbi. His disciples would sit elsewhere among the crowd of strangers. Those heading the service may not even give Yeshua an opportunity to speak during the occasion. This is most likely the experience of everyone who gathers in a church during Passover.

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COVID-19 and the plagues

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:13 (KJV)

Where ye are – The first quarantine was established by God during the time of a plague. He instructed all of Israel to stay in their homes while a plague ravished the land. And here we are today, on the verge of Passover, practicing quarantine to remove ourselves from a virus spreading throughout the land. How fitting.

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Law of the Broken Neck Donkey

And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

Exodus 13:13 (KJV)

Redeem – Did you know that a donkey is the only unclean animal that is required to be redeemed? Continue reading “Law of the Broken Neck Donkey”

Goats and Coats

31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.

Genesis 37:31-32 (KJV)

Goats and coats – In this story we read how Joseph’s brothers took his coat and dipped it in the blood of a goat to deceive their father, Jacob. This was the defining moment that resulted in the slavery of Israel in Egypt. As we explored in the previous post we saw that the prophecy of slavery was fulfilled twice. The second time was preceded by these verses above, but what about the first time when Jacob was an indentured servant to his uncle Laban? What was the catalyst there? Continue reading “Goats and Coats”

Slavery Prophecy Fulfilled, Twice

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15 […]
16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Genesis 15:13-16 (KJV)

This is the prophecy that starts the story of redemption which we know as Passover. God prophecies to Abram explaining how Abram’s seed will go into slavery for a long time and then come out in abundance and wealth. Continue reading “Slavery Prophecy Fulfilled, Twice”

Honored by Pharaoh

And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

Exodus 14:17 (KJV)

Get me honor – How was God going to be honored by the pursuit of Pharaoh and his soldiers? We might suggest that God was going to be honored by their death in the Reed Sea. But I don’t think that’s the case. There’s a relationship to another story in Genesis that will reveal God’s meaning here. Let’s take a look. Continue reading “Honored by Pharaoh”

Not with Old Leaven

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)

Not with old leaven – Today is the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It’s a High Sabbath today, and I’d like to look back on this holy day in regards to leaven and yeast. Continue reading “Not with Old Leaven”

The Proof is in the Confusion

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Matthew 27:46 (KJV)

Eli – Do you want to know why your translation of the Bible is not completely reliable? Compare this verse with Mark 15:34. Continue reading “The Proof is in the Confusion”

A Mixture of Interpretations

Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

Exodus 8:21 (KJV)

Swarms of flies – We’ve read this story so many times as a child, and maybe even as an adult, that we could probably list the 10 plagues by memory. Continue reading “A Mixture of Interpretations”